A vicious industrial fire in South Gate on Sunday prompted a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.
The fire was first reported around 2 p.m., with units arriving at the 18000 block of Industrial Avenue to find a one-story building fully engulfed in flames, according to KTLA. Heavy smoke prompted crews to take a defensive approach to the blaze, which was ultimately upgraded to a three-alarm fire response.
South Gate Police Department officials issued a shelter-in-place order for residents and businesses around Garfield Avenue and Imperial Highway. The alert stated: “Bring all people and pets indoors. Remain indoors with doors and windows closed. Be prepared to follow law and fire instructions. Call 911 for emergency assistance.”
Footage of the blaze obtained by KTLA showed flames visible from the road behind the facility, where heavy smoke billowed into the sky and at least some trees near the building had ignited. Residents were instructed to avoid the area of Gardendale and Industrial streets while the scene remained active. The fire appeared to be near homes, though it was not immediately clear whether any other structures were threatened.
A fire-related power outage affecting nearly 500 customers near the scene began just before 3:30 p.m., according to Southern California Edison. The outage was initially expected to be restored around 5 p.m., but as of 6 p.m. Sunday, customers remained without power. Fire officials reported that the blaze was knocked down at 4:19 p.m., though crews remained on scene. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.
Additionally, Orange County is dealing with a potential explosion of a chemical tank at an aerospace facility, which forced more than 40,000 residents to evacuate. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to the hazardous situation.